FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136  
137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>  
[In the start which she gives, her face is fully revealed to the audience.] CHARLES. Come along, out of the way of these people. [He jerks his head towards the HILLCRISTS. CHLOE gives a swift look down to the stage Right of the audience.] CHLOE. No; I'm all right; it's hotter there. CHARLES. [To ROLF] Well, look after her--I must go back. [ROLF node. CHARLES, slides bank to the door, with a glance at the HILLCRISTS, of whom MRS. HILLCRIST has been watching like a lynx. He goes out, just as the SOLICITOR, finishing, sits down.] AUCTIONEER. [Rising and tapping] Now, gen'lemen, it's not often a piece of land like this comes into the market. What's that? [To a friend in front of him] No better land in Deepwater--that's right, Mr. Spicer. I know the village well, and a charming place it is; perfect locality, to be sure. Now I don't want to wirry you by singing the praises of this property; there it is--well-watered, nicely timbered--no reservation of the timber, gen'lemen--no tenancy to hold you up; free to do what you like with it to-morrow. You've got a jewel of a site there, too; perfect position for a house. It lies between the Duke's and Squire Hillcrist's--an emerald isle. [With his smile] No allusion to Ireland, gen'lemen--perfect peace in the Centry. Nothing like it in the county--a gen'leman's site, and you don't get that offered you every day. [He looks down towards HORNBLOWER, stage Left] Carries the mineral rights, and as you know, perhaps, there's the very valuable Deepwater clay there. What am I to start it at? Can I say three thousand? Well, anything you like to give me. I'm sot particular. Come now, you've got more time than me, I expect. Two hundred acres of first-rate grazin' and cornland, with a site for a residence unequalled in the county; and all the possibilities! Well, what shall I say? [Bid from SPICER.] Two thousand? [With his smile] That won't hurt you, Mr. Spicer. Why, it's worth that to overlook the Duke. For two thousand? [Bid from HORNBLOWER, stage Left.] And five. Thank you, sir. Two thousand five hundred bid. [To a friend just below him.] Come, Mr. Sandy, don't scratch your head over it. [Bid from DAWKER, Stage Right.] And five. Three thousand bid for this desirable property. Why, you'd think it wasn't desirable. Come along, gen'lemen. A little spirit. [A alight paus
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136  
137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>  



Top keywords:

thousand

 

perfect

 

CHARLES

 

county

 

audience

 

Deepwater

 

Spicer

 
hundred
 

HILLCRISTS

 

friend


desirable
 

property

 

HORNBLOWER

 

Centry

 
Carries
 
offered
 

mineral

 

Nothing

 

valuable

 

rights


scratch

 

DAWKER

 

spirit

 

alight

 
overlook
 

grazin

 

expect

 
cornland
 

residence

 

SPICER


unequalled

 

possibilities

 

Ireland

 

praises

 

watching

 

HILLCRIST

 

glance

 

SOLICITOR

 
tapping
 

Rising


finishing

 

AUCTIONEER

 

revealed

 

people

 

slides

 

hotter

 

morrow

 

position

 
emerald
 

Hillcrist